Mechanism for removing snow, sand, gravel, and other debris from railroad track constructions



1955 J. GILMORE ETAL 2,700,519

MECHANISM FOR REMOVING SNOW, SAND, GRAVEL AND OTHER DEBRIS FROM RAILROAD TRACK CONSTRUCTIONS Eiled June 19, 1951 a P a I w/zw -w ATTORNEY] United States Patent MECHANISM FOR REMOVING SNOW, SAND,

GRAVEL, AND OTHER DEBRIS FROM RAIL- ROAD TRACK CONSTRUCTIONS Lloyd J. Gilmore and Vern C. Hankins, Spokane, Wash.

Application June 19, 1951, Serial No. 232,298

14 Claims. (Cl. 246-428) The maintenance of railroad and railway track constructions in fully operating condition is oftentimes rendered quite difficult because of the formation of deposits of snow, sand, gravel or other debris, and in northern latitudes where snow falls many times during the winter months the problem involved in maintaining railroad switches in freely operable condition is particularly acute. The present invention relates to means for maintalnmg selected lengths of railroad track construction free of such deposits over prolonged periods of time and 1s partlcularly helpful in maintaining railroad switches free of obstructing deposits.

It has heretofore been proposed that switch constructions and other easily blocked sections of track may be I maintained free of obstructive snow deposits by the utilization of heating means, and the use of pneumatic mechanism for intermittently blowing snow deposits away as they tend to form has also been suggested. Generally speaking, however, for one reason or another, such pneumatic mechanisms have not come into popular use and much labor is currently expended in manually freeing switch points and the like of snow deposits, and much fuel expended in thawing out snow covered and frozen switches.

The present invention contemplates the utilizatlon of a pneumatic means of automatically acting character which is of a type readily applicable to any section of trackway and which will operate entirely automatically and periodically, the periods between operations bemg lengthened or shortened, as desired, to enable the mechanism to combat weathering conditions which vary widely in intensity with the least expenditure of energy. Not only is a mechanism embodying the invention well adapted to prevent accumulations of snow from interfering with free operation of the track with which it is utilized but it will function equally well to dispel in timely manner accumulations of sand or dirt which, in many sections of the country, are deposited by wind currents.

Essensially the invention comprises the combination with a source of air under pressure of a manifold equipped with ports through which air may be directed against the area to be maintained free of accumulation, together with a valve for controlling the flow of air from the pressure source to the manifold and means of novel character for automatically effecting the opening and closing of such valve at regular intervals. The details of construction of the several individual elements of the combination may be varied in certain respects without departure from the invention, one embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings by way of example.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an illustration, in plan, of a railroad switch construction, showing the snow and sand removal means applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a railroad rail taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the manner in which the manifold, including air discharge jets, is applied thereto;

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section through the periodically and automatically operating valve means which controls the operation of the means which discharges air onto the areas to be cleaned;

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of'Figure 2, upon a somewhat larger scale.

In Figure 1 of the drawings two main line rails comprising a through track are indicated at 10 and two movable switch points at 11. Any suitable means for effecting lateral movement of the switch points 11 relatively to the two rails 10 may be provided, such as the pneumatically operated type of switch operating means generally indicated at 12 in the drawings. The rails 10 are of standard cross section having the usual narrow Web with a relatively wide or overhanging head, and underneath the head and between the web and vertical planes located at the side edges of the head, clearance spaces are afforded which are utilized in mounting parts of the present apparatus. The lateral boundaries of such clearance spaces, as atforded or defined by such planes, are for purposes of the present application designated as the lateral confines of the rail head.

It is important to prevent the deposition between each rail 10 and the immediately adjacent switch point 11 of snow, sand, gravel or other debris which will prevent movement of the switch points into close engagement with the main rails, and hence the mechanism is designed and arranged in such manner as to cause the discharge into the space between the rails and the switch points of streams of air sufiicient in number and of sufiicient strength to cause the dislodgment of any such undesirable accumulations. For this purpose there is associated with each rail 10, on the side thereof adjacent the associated switch member, a manifold 14 which is so secured to the rail as to occupy a position beneath the rail head and closely adjacent the rail web, as indicated in Figure 6 of the drawings, thus to be located within the lateral confines of the rail head. Each manifold is provided with a series of nozzles or air discharge elements, indicated at 15 which nozzles may be formed in various ways and may, if desired, be made adjustable so that jets or currents of air may be caused to impinge at various angles upon the rail flange or adjacent trackway space.

The two manifolds 14 are connected to a cross pipe 16 which pipe is supplied with air under desired pressure from a tank 17, a valve the casing of which is indicated at 18 being provided for controlling the flow of air from tank 17 through pipe 16 to the manifolds 14. This air flow control means may be observed most clearly in Figure 5 of the drawings, the valve casing 18 being shown to be provided with a downwardly and transversely extending partition 19 the lower edge of which directly overlies and is adapted to be closely engaged by a diaphragm 20. When the upper surface of diaphragm 20 is in full engagement with the lower edge of transverse partition 19 no air may flow from the tank into pipe 16 but, when this diaphragm is lowered air may flow over its surface and beneath partition 19, and thence to the manifolds for distribution to the nozzles.

Intermittent blasts are quite sulficient to accomplish the desired results and hence mechanism is provided for intermittently actuating the diaphragm 20 to alternately permit and interrupt flow of air to pipe 16. The means for accomplishing this objective includes the diaphragm operating plunger 22, the enlarged upper end of which engages the undersurface of the diaphragm at about its midpoint, the lower end of the plunger 22 resting upon the upper surface of a lever 23 pivotally mounted at 24 upon a fixed bracket 25. One end of lever 23 is normally urged downwardly by a coiled compression spring 26 and thls spring will normally maintain the lever in such position that the plunger 22 is elevated and the diaphragm 20 is 1n contact with partition 19, the effect of the spring thus being to normally close the valve. To the other end of lever 23 is pivotally connected a rod 27 upon the upper end of which is mounted a piston 28 slidable within a cylinder 29. The upper end of cylinder 29 is closed by a cylinder head 30 perforated at 31 to permit the entrance of air under pressure for the purpose of depressing piston 28, rocking the lever 23 and thereby permitting downward movement of plunger 22 and valve diaphragm 20. The piston and cylinder construction described may be designated a pressure responsive device for operating lever 23 and it is periodically supplied with air under pressure by a duct which connects it to the supply tank 17, two sections of this duct being indicated at 32 and 33 respectively.

Intermediate duct sections 32 and 33 is a valve means generally indicated at 35 which functions to normally mo ern close the duct and prevent the passage of air to the air pressure responsive device which comprises the piston 28 and cylinder 29. When, however, the pressure in duct element 33 is sufficiently high, this valve will act to permit he flow o air into duct 2 a d hence owardly to aidiii r 29. Whi e th s alv means may e various y nlrueted tha emb diment wh c is illus rate in he dr i s s e inently a isfa t ry in se, omprisin t valve casing 37 in which is slidably supported a difierential p o 38 the reduced end 3 hich is normally main? tall ed in seated relation against the seating surface of the; valve casing 37 (as shown in Figure 4), by means of a spring device 40. The spring, Which resists opening of the valve 38;, is preferably so designed that it will yield illl P 2$5l O the air in duct 33 reaches a definite amount, for instance 75 pounds per square inch, and the air flowing into the valve chamber after a partial open? ing has thus been caused, acts upon the entire area of the piston, including the annular piston face 380, so that the valve opening is thereafter quite rapidly effected and the outlet port 42, quickly uncovered to bring ducts 33 and 32 into full communication and air under pressure to flow to cylinder 29. When this happens the piston 28 is lowered in the cylinder 29 and the valve in duct 16 caused to open in the manner previously explained.

Air will flow for a considerable period of time into the manifolds 14 b t eventually the pressure in tank 17, which is falling steadily, becomes so low that the spring 41) overbalanees the air pressure against the end surfaces o 16, valve 33., the valve being thus urged again into closed position. The valve will then remain closed until the air pressure in the flask or container again reaches 75 pounds whereupon the total pressure against the small end surface of the valve is sufficiently great to overcome the effect of spring 46 and the operation is repeated. It will be observed that one end of spring 40 is seated against the internal annular shoulder of nut 44 which nut is in turn threaded into a sleeve 45 which forms the end closure for the chamber in which the valve 38 is movably Supported. Rotation of nut 44 will therefore vary the initial tension in spring 40 and thus cause the valve to open at a greater Or less pressure of the air against it, as may be desired. When valve 38 closes port 42 is brought into communication with the atmosphere and air is thus permitted to escape from cylinder 29, allowing the piston 28 to rise under the influence of spring 26. The details of construction of the valve means just described do not comprise portions of the present invention and any suitahlelperidodically operable valve of this character may be 9Y I the purpose of compressing air and introducing it into the tank any suitable air pressure means may be provided, such, for instance, as the air compressor indicated at. P in the drawings which is connected to and operated by an electric motor M. If desired air pressure responsive means may be provided for intermittently causing the motor M to become active and inactive.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by'Letters' Patent is:

1. Apparatus of the character described for use with railroad switches that have a movable switch rail and a main line rail having a narrow web and a relatively wide head substantially symmetrical with the web and affording a projecting overhang on opposite sides of the web, said apparatus comprising, an elongated distributing manifold adapted to be disposed longitudinally of the web and wholly beneath and within the lateral confines-of the head of a main line rail in the space between said main line rail and the switch rail associated therewith, said manifold having a plurality of orifices facing in the direction of said switch rail and through which snow propelling air currents may be discharged, and means for causing air currents to be periodically discharged from said orifices, said means including a source of air under pressure, a conduit connecting said source and said distributing manifold, a diaphragm valve for controlling the flow of air through said conduit, a pivoted lever directly connected to one side of said diaphragm valve for operating the same,

an air pressure responsive piston for actuating said lever Y to open and close said diaphragm valve, a duct for leading air from said source to said piston device, and an air valve 311 said duct for automatically opening and closing the uct.

2. In a railroad switch having a stationary rail and a movable rail adapted to be moved into engagement with 4 one another in a switching operation, pneumatic apparatus for maintaining the space between the rails free of snow, debris and the like comprising, a narrow elongated manifold conduit for compressed air of a horizontal width less than the overhang lateral of the head of the stationary rail and adapted to extend along the web and under and within the lateral extremity of the head of the stationary one of the rails so as not to project from beneath the head of the stationary rail, a plurality of nozzles arranged in a row along said manifold to direct blasts of compressed air in said manifold at a plurality of different points within said space, said nozzles also being completely disposed beneath the head of said stationary rail whereby said rail may be freely switched into and out of engagement with one another, and means to supply compressed air in periodic pulses to said conduit.

3. In a railroad switch having a stationary rail having a web and a relatively wide head and a movable rail adapted to be moved into engagement with one another in a switching operation, pneumatic apparatus for maintaining the space between the rails free of snow, debris and the like comprising, an elongated and relatively narrow manifold conduit of a size and configuration that adapts the conduit to fit completely beneath and within the confines of the head of said stationary rail so as to extend longitudinally along the web of the rail without projecting beyond the side of the rail head thereby permitting normal switching engagement to be established between said rails when desired, said manifold having a plurality of ports formed therein that are adapted to direct pulses of compressed air outwardly of said stationary rail and into said space between said rails, and means for applying periodic pulses of compressed air in definite time relation one to another to said manifold conduit and the openings therein.

4. In a railroad switch having a stationary rail having a web and a relatively wide head and a movable rail adapted to engage with one another during a switching operation, pneumatic apparatus for maintaining the area between the rails free of snow, debris and the like comprising, an elongated manifold conduit for compressed air adapted to extend along one side of the web and within the space beneath and with the extremity of the overhanging head of a stationary one of the rails in a protected and out of the way relation, a plurality of nozzles arranged in a row in projecting relation along said manifold and within said space to direct blasts of compressed air in said manifold at a plurality of different points within said area, said manifold conduit and the nozzles associated therewith being completely disposed within said space under the head of the stationary rail so as not to interfere with said switching operation, and means to supply compressed air in periodic pulses to said conduit, said means comprising an air line connected to said manifold and a valve in said line for controlling the flow of compressed air in pulses from the source of air under pressure.

5'. In a railroad switch having a stationary rail of a cross-section that affords a narrow web and a symmetrical head of substantially greater Width than the web, and a movable rail adapted to engage with the head of the stationary rail during a switching operation, pneumatic apparatus for maintaining the space between the rails free of snow, debris and thelike comprising, an elongated manifold conduit of a size and configuration adapted to be completely mounted beneath the head of said stationary rail so as, to, extend longitudinally along the web of the rail in a recessed relation without projecting beyond the sides of the head of the rail whereby said switching operation may take place without interference from, said conduit thus disposed in a recessed relation, said manifold having a plurality of ports formed therein that are adapted to direct pulses of compressed air outwardly of said stationary rail and into said space between saidrails, and means for applying periodic pulses of compressed air in definite time relation one to another to said manifold conduit and the openings therein, said means comprising an air line adapted to' 'connect said manifold with a source of air underpressure, and a valve in said line for controlling the flow of compressed air impulsesfrom the source of air underpressure.

6. Apparatus for use with railroad switches comprising a stationary rail having a narrow web and a symmetrical head of. substantially gretater width affording a substantial clearance space located beneath the head,

and a movable rail movable into and out of engagement with the head of said stationary rail, said apparatus including, a relatively narrow, elongated conduit for compressed air that is adapted to be supported beneath the head of the stationary rail in parallel vrelation to the web of the stationary rail, said conduit when thus supported being disposed completely under the head of the rail in a recessed relation thereto and within said clearance space so as not to interfere with the switching operation when the movable rail is moved to engage the stationary rail, said conduit being formed with a plurality of spaced ports along the length thereof that are adapted to direct streams of compressed air in a plurality of different paths'into the space between said rails when the switch is open to'maintain said space free of snow, debris and the like, and means for applying periodic pulses of air under pressure to said conduit and the parts associated therewith.

7. Apparatus for association with railroad switches comprising a stationary rail and a movable rail and in which the stationary rail has a narrow web and a relatively wide overhanging head, said apparatus including, a relatively narrow elongated conduit for compressed air that is adapted to be supported beneath the head of the stationary rail in parallel relation to the web of the stationary rail, said conduit when thus supported being disposed completely under and within the lateral confines of the head of the rail in a recessed relation thereto so as not to interfere with the switching operation when the movable rail is moved to engage the stationary rail, said conduit having mounted thereon a plurality of adjustable nozzles adapted to direct periodic blasts of compressed air in a plurality of different directions within the space between said rails to maintain said space free of snow, debris and the like, and means for applying periodic pulses of air under pressure to said conduit and the nozzles associated therewith.

8. Apparatus for maintaining railroad switches comprising a stationary rail and a movable rail free of snow, debris and the like including, a relatively narrow elongated conduit for compressed air that is adapted to be supported beneath the head of the stationary rail in parallel relation to the web of the stationary rail, said stationary rail having a narrow web and a relatively wide overhanging head and said conduit when thus supported being disposed completely underneath and within the confines of the head of the rail in a recessed relation so as not to interfere with the switching operation when the movable rail is moved to engage the stationary rail, said conduit having mounted thereon a plurality of adjustable nozzles also located wholly beneath and within the lateral confines of the head of the stationary rail and adapted to direct periodic blasts of compressed air in a plurality of different directions within the space between said rails to maintain said space free of snow, debris and the like, and means for applying periodic pulses of air under pressure to said conduit and the ports associated therewith, the last-named means including an air line adapted to connect said manifold with a source of air under pressure, and an air valve in said line for controlling the flow of compressed air in pulses from the source of air under pressure.

9. Apparatus for maintaining railroad switches comprising a stationary rail and a movable railfree of snow, debris and the like including, a relatively narrow elongated conduit for compressed air that is adapted to be supported beneath the head of the stationary rail in parallel relation to the web of the stationary rail, said stationary rail having a narrow web and a relatively wide overhanging head and said conduit when thus supported being disposed completely underneath and within the confines of the head of the stationary rail in a recessed relation thereto so as not to interfere with the switching operation when the movable rail is moved to engage the stationary rail, said conduit being formed with a plurality of spaced ports along the length thereof that are adapted to direct streams of compressed air in a plurality of different paths into the space between said rails when the switch is open to maintain said space free of snow, debris and the like, and means for applying periodic pulses of air under pressure to said conduit and the ports associated therewith, the last-named means including an air line adapted to connect said manifold with a source of air under pressure, and an air valve in saidline for controlling the flow of compressed air in pulses from the source of air under pressure.

10. In a railroad switch comprising a stationary rail and a movable rail embodying heads carried on relatively narrower webs and including adjacent edges on said heads of which at least portions thereof are engageable one with another in the course of operation of the switch, pneumatic apparatus for maintaining the space between the rails free of snow, debris and the like comprising an elongated manifold for compressed air mounted on and along the web and confined beneath the head of one of the rails so as not to project laterally beyond the aforesaid adjacent edge of such rail, a plurality of downwardly directed discharge nozzles mounted at spaced intervals along said manifold and also confined beneath the head of the rail on which the manifold is mounted so as not to project laterally beyond the aforesaid adjacent edge thereof, said nozzles being disposed relatively close to one another and arranged to so discharge compressed air from said manifold that a substantially continuous stream of compressed air is afforded between I the rails to be effective to sweep out snow, debris and the like from the space between said rails,

11. In a" railroad switch comprising a stationary rail and a movable, rail embodying narrow webs and relatively wider head portions including adjacent edges of which at least portions thereof are engageable one with another in the course of operation of the switch, pneumatic apparatus for maintaining the space between the rails free of snow, debris, and the like comprising an elongated manifold for compressed air, said manifold be ing of such dimensions that the manifold may be mounted on and along the web and confined beneath the head of one of the rails so as not to project laterally beyond the aforesaid adjacent edge of such rail, a plurality of downwardly directed discharge nozzles mounted at spaced intervals along said manifold and also being of such dimensions as to be confined beneath the head of the rail on which the manifold is mounted so as not to project laterally beyond the aforesaid adjacent edge thereof, said nozzles being disposed relatively close to one another and arranged to so discharge compressed air from said manifold that a substantially continues stream of compressed air will be afforded between the rails to be effective to sweep out snow, debris and the like from the space between said rails.

12. Apparatus for use with a railway switch embodying stationary and movable rails which include head portions and in which the stationary rail has a narrow web and a relatively wide overhanging head portion, said head portions having adjacent edges of which at least portions are engageable one with another in the course of operation of the switch, and which apparatus is effective to maintain the space between the rails free of snow, debris and the like, said apparatus including an elongated conduit through which compressed air may be passed and which conduit is adapted to be supported beneath the head of the stationary rail of such a switch in engagement with the web thereof, said conduit being so sized that the portions thereof remote from those adapted to be engaged with the web will be disposed inwardly of said adjacent edge of said rail when the conduit is so supported beneath the head of the stationary rail, a plurality of downwardly directed discharge nozzles disposed at relatively closely spaced intervals along said conduit and which are so sized that the same may be confined beneath the head of the rail when the conduit is engaged with the web of the rail as aforesaid, said nozzles being arranged to so discharge compressed air from said conduit that a substantially continuous stream of compressed air may be afforded between the rails to be effective to sweep out snow, debris and the like from the space between said rails when said conduit and the nozzles thereof are mounted as aforesaid.

13. Apparatus for use with a railway switch embodying stationary and movable rails which include head portions, the head portion of the stationary rail being relatively wide with respect to the web onwhich it is carried, said head portions having adjacent edges of which at least portions are engageable one with another in the course of operation of the switch, and which apparatus is effective to maintain the space between the rails free of snow, debris and the like, said apparatus including an elongated conduit through which fluid under pressure may be passed and which conduit is adapted to be supported beneath the head of one of the rails of such a switch in engagement with the web thereof, said conduit being so sized that the side portions thereof remote from those adapted to be engaged with the web will be disposed inwardly of said adjacent edge of said rail when the conduit is so supported beneath the head of the stationary rail, a plurality of downwardly directed discharge nozzles mounted at relatively closely spaced intervals along said conduit and which are so sized that the same may be confined beneath the head of the rail inwardly of the aforesaid adjacent edge of the rail when the conduit is engaged with the Web of the rail as aforesaid, said nozzles being so arranged on the manifold as to discharge fluid under pressure from said conduit so that a substantially continuous stream of said fluid may be directed along the space between the rails to be effective to sweep out snow, debris and the like therefrom when said conduit and the nozzles thereof are mounted as aforesaid.

14. Apparatus for clearing snow, debris and the like from the space between the stationary and movable rails of a railway switch, which rails include heads of standard dimensions and the head of the stationary rail being relatively wide with respect to the web thereof, and the heads of said rails having adjacent edges of which portions are to be engaged with one another in a switch 8:; ing operation, said apparatus comprising an elongated tubular manifold through which compressed air may be directed and which is adapted to be mounted on the web of the stationary one of the rails beneath that overhanging portion of the head thereof which is disposed opposite the movable rail of the switch, said manifold having a lateral width of substantially less dimension than the corresponding lateral dimension of the said overhanging portion of the head of the stationary rail so that when the manifold is mounted as aforesaid the manifold Will be completely disposed beneath and within the lateral confines of the head of said stationary rail, and a plurality of discharge nozzles on the manifold projecting downwardly therefrom and related in size to said portion of the head of said stationary rail as the manifold is related thereto so that a substantially continuous stream of compressed air may be directed along the space between said rails by said nozzles when the switch is both open and closed to sweep such space free of snow, debris and the like.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,778,637 Hollinger Oct. 14, 1930 1,818,989 Grifiith Aug. 18, 1931 1,959,107 Packer May 15, 1934 

